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Whatever the term means, Hafiz Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi is known among journalists in Lahore as a ‘liberal’ maulvi (cleric). His ‘moderate’ stance on issues such as sectarian violence, militancy and suicide attacks has endeared him to many in urgent need of a religious scholar who can provide them with breathing space in today’s Pakistan. He is one of the few religious leaders in the country who have stood up in recent years to denounce violence by extremist organisations and to defend people like the little Christian girl from Islamabad, Rimsha Masih, who was booked on a blasphemy charge.

A graduate of the University of Punjab and the Jamia Ashrafia in Lahore, Tahir Ashrafi gained prominence on account of his active role in the Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC), a platform created by the leaders of Deobandi, Barelvi, Shia and Ahle Hadith schools of thought back in 1988 to promote sectarian harmony amid growing sectarian strife in the country. He has been part of the council since its inception and was elected its chairman by its Markazi Majlis-i-Shoora or central executive committee, in 2007. Ever since, the PUC, a Deobandi-dominated organisation, has under his stewardship issued several (religious) decrees against suicide attacks, honour killings and activities of the militant Islamic State group, and in favour of women’s suffrage and prevention of misuse of blasphemy laws.

On the other hand, Hafiz Ashrafi also has the image of a controversial figure. He has been repeatedly criticised by religious circles for his views and actions and has faced threats to his life from extremist and militant organisations. There have been several efforts to remove him from the chairmanship of the council. The latest such attempt was made by Sahibzada Zahid Mahmood Qasmi last week at a meeting of the PUC Shoora at a Deobandi mosque-cum-seminary in Faisalabad. An announcement made after the meeting said that 500 ulema, who had gathered at Jamia Qasmia, had decided to remove Tahir Ashrafi and replace him with Sahibzada Qasmi, who has the reputation of a conservative and hard-line Deobandi cleric.

“The Markazi Majlis-i-Shoora of the Pakistan Ulema Council has dismissed Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi from the office of the council’s chairman, cancelling his basic membership from its sub-organisations, and elected Sahibzada Zahid Mahmood Qasmi in his place,” the statement said.

“The former chairman has made autonomous decisions on internal and external affairs without consulting members of the Shoora. Some authentic facts and evidence have come into notice of the Shoora that show that Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi has made foreign contacts that were absolutely against Islam, the constitution of Pakistan and manifesto of the Pakistan Ulema Council,” said the statement published in newspapers.

At the heart of the accusations made against Hafiz Ashrafi was the allegation that he had “secretly obtained massive funds from the American and German governments for spying on the students of seminaries in Pakistan” — a charge he vehemently denies.

“I haven’t received any money from any American or German organisation or any foreign government,” he told Dawn. “I was approached by the Americans who planned to set up peace committees here. They wanted me to guide them on different issues. The deal fell through because of difference of views (on the project). Even the Americans and Germans have issued clarifications about these unproven allegations.”

Tahir Ashrafi wasn’t particularly worried about his “dismissal”.

“The people who removed me from the chairmanship of the PUC do not have the mandate to do this. Only a couple of Shoora members actually attended the meeting. Certain elements have long been campaigning against me because they don’t approve of my stance on issues like sectarianism, women’s rights, blasphemy laws, etc.”

Without naming anyone, he said the people opposed to his moderate religious views had tried many times in the past to incite public opinion against him. “When I speak about interfaith harmony, I am asked to shut up. When I call for preventing misuse of blasphemy laws, I am threatened. Recently, I was told that the council should issue a decree against the (missing) bloggers. I refused and told them that I could not support their demand because it was the job of law enforcement agencies to investigate such matters. It is not the PUC’s job to declare every other man and woman kafir (infidel). We must encourage moderate views and respect the rule of law as taught by Islam.”

Some analysts believe that the present rift within the council represents the “struggle for power and recognition between two Deobandi groups”. “The PUC mainly comprising a group of pragmatist clerics does not enjoy a very widespread influence among the followers of Deobandi school of thought. It draws its strength from its role as a bridge between the government and different religious groups — both extremist and moderate — whenever the need arises. In exchange the clerics qualify for different favours,” a political observer said.

“Under Tahir Ashrafi, the council has done its job rather well. The PUC under him did help the government a number of times and issued decrees on issues that no other religious organisation or cleric would agree to issue for fear or otherwise. The council will continue to play its role even if Tahir Ashrafi is replaced. But the authorities would have a hard time getting his replacement to take bold stand on many issues as was the case with Tahir Ashrafi,” he concluded.

On DawnNews

Comments (16) Closed

Alba

Mar 06, 2017 09:28am

Government spying on seminaries is the whole point. Time for seminaries to change for the better. The government must spy on them to see if geometry and trigonometry are being taught. The multiplication tables will not be enough in this century. Geometry, algebra and trigonometry might give students an interest in engineering. Of course there are no chemistry laboratories in seminaries. They are not exactly college prep academies. A ten year old can learn geometry if he has a geometry textbook.

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Ahmad zubair

Mar 06, 2017 09:57am

Ulema need to be more compassionate towards community issues and
each other as well.

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saif sethar

Mar 06, 2017 10:43am

Tahir Ashrafi has a ambivalent reputation as religious head, Allegations regarding his consumption of Alcohol, drastically contradicts his religious obligations-prohibition of consumption of alcohol and so many others. As matter of fact it is commonplace that in any organisation irrespective of any religious representation, if Heads of the organisation do not consults its members then its indispensable to be complacent about opposition.

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Asif jamil

Mar 06, 2017 10:59am

A sad day for moderates. Where is the country heading?

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Saad saeed

Mar 06, 2017 12:00pm

The Pakistani liberal class should seriously rethink it approach of pinning its hopes on such clerics who have no credibility in the right wing.
If we want to encourage dialogue and bridge the growing chasm between the Pakistani liberal class and the increasingly myopic rightists, we should at least start with someone who is trusted by the clerics.
There is a difference between being 'moderate' and being a 'stooge' of government in power.

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Umair

Mar 06, 2017 12:38pm

Remove all of them and pakistan will prosper.

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Saif zulfiqar

Mar 06, 2017 12:48pm

Now the fight will start for the vacant post between clerics.

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khalid Yousafzai (UK)

Mar 06, 2017 02:07pm

he is unmoved because he is a knowledgeable and confident whatever he does or speaks. I like him by the way.

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majid

Mar 06, 2017 02:25pm

@Saif zulfiqar obviously who hates, perks, protocol, free international trips for being most unproductive.

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Imtiaz Ahmed

Mar 06, 2017 03:02pm

Pakistan's problem is not religious or moderate, actual problem is lake of tolerance and respect for each other. Both religious and moderate are at extreme edge, I would suggest to be Pakistani first. About spying if you are not doing anything wrong then no need to cry. About moderate or liberal be in a parameter to avoid clash. If we all become Pakistani, we will succeed together.

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naseem ahmad

Mar 06, 2017 03:06pm

@Umair we might as well remove corrupt politicians, and senior civil servants, and see the country prosper.

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Akram

Mar 06, 2017 03:51pm

the state should step in and stop these religious conservatives taking over this body. its important that such bodies have reasonable people,

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Ali

Mar 06, 2017 04:12pm

How about we stop these Stone Age councils from having influence and actually start educating children about facts and science

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M.Saeed

Mar 06, 2017 04:42pm

We need a dynamic person who could move with time, to be the head of Ulema Council.

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Ali Vazir - Congo

Mar 06, 2017 05:09pm

There was an excellent article a couple of days in this daily where the former Police chief had clearly showed the statistics that the real problem-makers, rather terrorists come from the hostels of the seminaries. The regular attendees do not cause much problem as it is difficult to brain-wash in that time. Therefore, the real need to keep an eye on is the hostel based areas.

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Ahsan Gul

Mar 06, 2017 08:01pm

We are facing many issues and very difficult and extremely sensitive in nature. One party or the governing government alone cannot resolve them. A joint concerted approach is needed from all the political parties.
National interest has to be above all.